Formerly prepared by John O’Sing in Queensland, the Top Echelon six-year-old has been with Team Hawkes since the start of the spring and has now had the two starts for two wins for his new trainers.

First-up off a four and a half month break he won over 1100m at Rosehill Gardens defeating Zaratone on November 1, Our Boy Malachi returning to the track and distance but this time in Listed company for the Starlight Stakes.

Jockey Dwayne Dunn settled the gelding just off the pace set by Senta De Noche from his wide barrier 11 of 12 draw before they made their move with 300m left to travel.

Displaying a scintillating turn of foot, Our Boy Malachi ($2.50F) drew clear of his rivals over the closing stages and on the line hand one and three-quarters of a length to spare over the Gerald Ryan-trained Dothraki ($3.60) to salute for the punters.

In third three lengths off the winner was then Kris Lees’ front runner Senta De Noche ($10) who held for a place in the trifecta just ahead of $26 roughie shot Fare Well for Clarry Conners.

Having shown an ability to handle better class and exciting end-of-race speed, Our Boy Malachi will now back-up in a fortnight contesting the $100,000 Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) at Royal Randwick.

It will be the Starlight Stakes winner’s first look at Sydney’s premier track, his only other racing before this season having been up north at tracks including Rockhampton and Mackay as well as a couple of Brisbane runs during the winter.

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes is confident the progressive sprinter, still only lightly raced with 17 runs under his belt for an impressive 15 wins and a second place, hasn’t reached his peak this summer with improvement to come in the Razor Sharp on December 13.

“Our Boy Malachi is not fully wound up yet and he has given them a toweling,” he said post-win on Saturday.

“He has come to us with a great record, horses just don’t do what he has done winning 15 of his 17 starts – it is ridiculous really.

“From the barrier, he jumped a little tardy and had to do a bit of work to get outside the leader, but what this horse does is extend under pressure and only the good horses do that.

“He is an exciting horse going forward and we are very pleased to have him in our stable.

“The sprinting series is here (in Sydney) and he loves good ground so we will look at the next race in a couple of weeks’ time.”

Starlight Stakes winning jockey Dunn was also impressed with what Our Boy Malachi showed on the line, and was looking forward to retaining the ride over the summer sprints including the rematch with Mossman gelding Dothraki in the Razor Sharp.

“Our Boy Malachi put them to the sword today,” Dunn said on Saturday.

“He never steps really fast, but then he takes a couple of strides and musters speed.

“I didn’t have to gas him to get there too quick and we were able to have a breather on the turn.

“He is a racehorse and when you push the go button, he responds.”

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